Information and Registration for Players
*NEW FOR 2025* West St. Paul will be facilitating the West St. Paul Mini Soccer Program.*
Mini Soccer Fee Breakdown
- U4-U8 Mini Soccer Fee Breakdown - $115.00 plus $18 member fee (paid directly to MSA)
- Can players still sign up for 2025 Mini Soccer?
- NO, Registration is now CLOSED.
- When does the Mini Soccer Season run?
- May & June – The 2025 Mini Soccer Season will begin the week of May 5 (if weather allows)
- What do the players need to wear / bring?
- runners & socks/ Cleats are recommended but not necessary.
- shin guards
- shorts or pants, depending on the weather conditions
- water bottle
- A Soccer Ball and Jersey will be provided for the season! Players can keep the Soccer Ball but Jersey may have to be returned at the end of the season
- Can my child play with a friend?
- We recognize the importance of friendships, however we will not be taking any special requests unless there is a commitment to volunteer to Coach, Assistant Coach, act as Team Manager, etc... Only those who VOLUNTEER will have their request considered (one request per registration).
- Without volunteers, the program will not be able to operate. Volunteers can be mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, big brother, big sister, auntie, uncle or cousin! Find more information on coaching by clicking the Information for Coaches option in the dropdown menu.
- Once Teams are formed and the season has started, rosters will not be changed
- Snacks?
- Due to the number of different allergies, having a team snack is not a requirement of mini soccer
- There is no allotted time for a snack break. The coaches can pause for a joint break or most often kids will eat or drink during their time off the field. Please do not feel obligated to bring or arrange team snack.
· Washrooms?
- Washrooms are available inside the Access Centre. Please use the front doors to enter, Washrooms are located to your left once you enter the building.
CANCELLATIONS AND ATTENDANCE
Contacting Coaches / Cancellations or Inclement Weather
Cancellations (due to weather) are at bothcoaches’ discretion. Parents are encouraged to advise coaches as soon as possible if their child will be absent so they can plan accordingly. If either coach needs to cancel a game this allows them to be respectful and contact the other coach with as much notice as possible.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Team Pictures
Pictures will be scheduled by the coaches. Players need to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time in their soccer uniform. Players with longer hair are encouraged to tie it back. The photographer this year will be Rick Friesen Photography; forms will be emailed once available. The photos will be taken in the back at the Mini Fields.
Jamboree
The Jamboree will be happening this year on Saturday, June 21st, 2025, held together with the East St. Paul mini program. More information is to come.
COACHES CORNER
Mini Soccer Coaches Corner:
Volunteer Coaches are NEEDED in order to run the Micro/Mini Soccer Program! Without volunteers to coach, the program will not be able to operate.
We try hard to organize at least 2 co-coaches per team so that if someone is not able to attend then there could be an alternate there to help with the team!
Here is a basic rundown of what coaches are responsible for:
- Picking up Soccer Equipment from the Access Centre, bringing it to each game and returning it at the end of the season
- Introducing yourself to your team, communicating game schedules and being present at each game
- Running a few warm-up exercises with kids (e.g. a lap around the field, stretching, jumping jacks, arm circles, etc.).
- Running soccer drills and skills before games (e.g. dribbling a ball around cones, practicing shooting on net, etc.).
- Help ensure players get equal playing time (substitute lines approximately every 3 minutes).
- Make sure players stay on the field when they are playing and on the sidelines when they are not playing.
- Help teach good sportsmanship. Encourage players to cheer on their teammates and congratulate the other team for a game well played!
At this age, you don’t need to be a professional soccer player to coach your child’s team. In fact, it’s completely okay if you’ve never played soccer before. The goal is for everyone to have fun at this level. These leagues are designed to provide all players with lots of opportunity to touch the ball in a positive environment. They are designed to expose young children to the basics of dribbling, passing and shooting. It’s more about teaching kids how to be a team player.
We will not be taking any special requests regarding team placements, playing with another player, etc... unless there is a commitment to volunteer to Coach, Assistant Coach, act as Team Manager, etc... Only those who VOLUNTEER will have their request considered (one request per registration). Without volunteers, the program will not be able to operate. Volunteers can be mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, big brother, big sister, auntie, uncle or cousin!
CANCELLATIONS AND ATTENDANCE
Contacting Coaches / Cancellations or Inclement Weather
Cancellations (due to weather) are at both coaches’ discretion. Parents are encouraged to advise coaches as soon as possible if their child will be absent so they can plan accordingly. If either coach needs to cancel a game this allows them to be respectful and contact the other coach with as much notice as possible.
JERSEYS AND EQUIPMENT
Jerseys
Coaches have been provided with team jerseys and will be distributed at the first game. We have attempted to provide various sizes but perfect fits for all are unlikely. Parents will need to provide a $50 deposit to their coach at the beginning of the season BYCHEQUE ONLY addressed to RM of West St. Paul to ensure coaches are not responsible for cash. All jerseys need to be returned to the coach at the last season game, at that time the cheque will be returned to parents.
Equipment
Each team is provided with a pop-up soccer net, cones, and soccer balls. Teams are provided with enough balls for each child on the team. At the end of the season, each child will be able to take home a ball.
All players should have shin guards, cleats are recommended not necessary and a water bottle.
Team Pictures
Pictures will be scheduled by the coaches. Please contact them directly to schedule your team photos-
Players need to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time in their soccer
uniform. Players with longer hair are encouraged to tie it back. The
photographer this year will be Rick Friesen Photography; forms will be emailed
once available. The photos will be taken in the back at the Mini Fields.
Resources for Coaches & Players – including trailing drills, skills and practice plans:
Canada Soccer Pathway Coach’s Tool Kit:
Stage One – ACTIVE START U5 & U6
Stage Two – FUNdamentals U6, U7 & U8
Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA) Grassroots Practice Plans for U5-U18 Soccer
MSA’s Technical Department provides weekly practice plans for Active Start, FUNdamentals, and Learn to Train Coaches
FCNW Training Drills:
Canada Soccer Grassroots Coaching Course
Coaches can take the Canada Soccer Grassroots Coaching Course for the age group you plan to Coach. (Not 100% required, but GREAT TO HAVE)
- Active Start – U4-U6
- FUNdamentals – U6-U9
- LEARN TO TRAIN – U9-U12
- SOCCER FOR LIFE – U13 +
The theoretical portion of the Coaching Courses are completed ONLINE through Canada Soccer – click HERE to sign up
The on-field practical portion of the Coaches Courses are completed through Manitoba Soccer Association - Info TBA!
ALL RECEIPTS are to be submitted to recreation@weststpaul.com for reimbursements
Respect in Sport (RIS) for Activity Leaders (Good for 5 years) (Not 100% required, but GREAT TO HAVE)
Free Course offered ONLINE through Sport Manitoba
If you have completed RIS in the past - click on "Click here to look it up" and input your email address that you would have used. You will be able to see your certification date. From that date your certification is good for 5 years.
If the date is past 5 years they will need to click "Click here to re-certify"
Coaches Clinic & RIS Certificates will need to be sent to recreation@weststpaul.com upon completion!
U3/4 & U5/6 Mini Soccer Schedules & Game Play
- U3/4 CO-ED SCHEDULE
- Monday & Wednesday – 6pm (40 mins)
- Games are scheduled at Access Centre Mini Fields – 48 Holland Rd.
- Structure: 3v3 with no goalie. Sessions are broken up into 2 sections- 20 min warm up & drills/activity, 20 min game
- U5/6 CO-ED SCHEDULE
- Tuesday & Thursday – 6pm (60 mins)
- Games are scheduled at Access Centre Mini Fields – 48 Holland Rd.
- Structure: 4v4 with no goalie. Sessions are broken up into 2 sections- 30 min warm up & drills/activity, 30 min game
Parent Involvement
Although we have dedicated volunteer coaches, we still highly recommend that parents/caregivers assist their children on the field. On-field parental involvement is encouraged in mini soccer programs for several key reasons, all aimed at creating a positive and developmental environment for young players:
· Creating a Comfortable and Safe Environment: For very young children (e.g., ages 2-5), having a parent nearby can ease anxiety and help them feel more secure in a new environment with new people and activities. This can make the initial introduction to soccer a more positive experience.
· Increased Engagement and Focus: Parental presence and encouragement can help keep young children engaged in the activities and focused on the coach's instructions. This is particularly true for the youngest age groups where attention spans are shorter.
· Facilitating Participation: Some young children may need a parent's physical assistance or gentle encouragement to participate in drills and games. Parents can help guide them, keep them on task, and bring them back to the group if they become distracted.
· Positive Role Modeling: Parents on the field can model positive behavior, such as listening to the coach, encouraging all players, and demonstrating good sportsmanship. This helps children learn these important values through observation.
- Weather Conditions
- Games are played come rain, snow, or shine. Only extreme weather (lightening) or hazardous field conditions (soaked fields) will cause cancellations. Lightning must be present, not forecast.
- Sometimes, games get played in both wet and cold weather. Splash pants (over shorts) and a light jacket (under jerseys) are allowed in these conditions.
- WYSA (Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association) posts on game days if games will be called off due to weather. Since WSP sometimes has weather different from other parts of the city, please connect with the coach/es from the other team if you are cancelling the game. There have been times where we've experienced a downpour and other parts of the city were dry.
- Visit the WYSA Website for info on Cancellations
U7/8 GIRLS AND U7/8 BOYS Schedules & Game Play
- Games should be played 5 on 5, plus a goalkeeper. Coaches can decide each day depending on their roster size.
- If you have a small roster come game day, feel free to cut the field in half. Discuss with other coach.
- Coaches from both teams will monitor the game, we do not have refs at this age.
- If the ball is kicked out of bounds, a player from the team which did not kick it out kicks it in.
- If the ball is kicked out of an end line, the goalkeeper will kick, throw or roll it back into play.
- There are no corner kicks or headers. These should not be part of practices or games.
- Players should not push or trip anyone.
- If players use their hands or foul, coaches will tell them about it (educate players) and then continue with the game.
- Whistles are blown for player shift changes. This should be done roughly every 3 minutes. Do not blow whistles for balls being kicked off the field.
- If there is a significant injury, play will stop. Common sense should be used.
- Games end with high fives and "Good Game” compliments to the opposing team
These are just general rules, there will be times where the balls goes out of bounds and play continues, and that’s ok! Use your own discretion. We want to keep the U7/8 mini program as casual as possible to ensure it’s fun and the kids don’t feel pressure going into games.
Mini Soccer Field Locations
